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Circumcifion, a Seal of the Righteousness of the Faith which he had, being yet uncircumcifed; that he might be the Father of all them that believe, though they be not circumcifed; that Righteousness might be imputed to them alfo: And the Father of Circumcifion to them who are not of the Circumcifion only, but also walk in the Steps of that Faith of our Father Abraham, which he had, being yet uncircumcifed. For the Promife that he should be the Heir of the World, was not to Abraham or to his Seed through the Law, but through the Righteousness of Faith, Rom. iv. 9-13. Therefore it is of Faith, that it might be by Grace; to the End the Promife might be fure to all the Seed, not to that only which is of the Law, but to that also which is of the Faith of Abraham, who is the Father of us all, ver. 16.

Not that our Faith, or Confidence and Truft in what Chrift has done and fuffered for us, is to compenfate and make amends for our doing nothing. Far from that; we are to outdo the Jews, we are to outdo the strictest Sects amongst them, or else we do nothing that will forward our Salvation. our Saviour plainly tells us: I fay unto you (faith he) except your Righteoufnefs exceed the Righte

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XIV.

XIV.

SERM. Righteousness of the Scribes and Pharifees, ye fball in no Cafe enter into the Kingdom of Heaven, Matt. v. 20. Though therefore you are not to boaft of your Works, nor to confide in, or depend on them, yet muft you be as zealous as, more zealous indeed than, the rigideft Jews, than even the Zealots themfelves to perform and exert them. Love your Nation, and, if you are able, build them a Synagogue: Or if you have one that is built to your Hands; beautify and repair it. Let God's Houfe be as decent as your own; and be in it as duly as the Doors are open But ftill remember to cry out with the Centurion, Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldst come under мr Roof.

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Nor content yourselves with the Worship of
God alone (and indeed if you worship him
as you ought to do, you will not be fo con-
tent) you will be diligent alfo in the Per-
formance of all Duties to your Neighbours
and yourselves. Though you
will not,
the Pharifee, boast and vaunt to God of
your Deeds; yet you will perform as great
as he did.
You will not be Extortioners,
Unjuft or Adulterers, Luke xviii. 11, 12.
You will faft in due Seafons; twice a Week,

XIV.

if you please, give Tithes you ought to do, SERM. and of all you poffefs; of Mint and Anife and Cummin, fmall as well as great, and that without Modus, Fraud or Covin. All these ye may do, and ought to do, as well as the weightier Matters of the Law, Judg ment, Mercy and Faith, Matt. xiii. 23.

But ftill, when all is done, you are not to depend on, or value yourselves for, the Performance of all. When When you have done all thefe Things that are commanded you, Christ himself inftructs you to fay, We are unprofitable Servants, we have done that which was our Duty to do, Luke xvii. 10. For the Acceptance of what is done, you must still have Recourse to the Merits of Christ, from thence expect your Imperfections to be made up, your Wants to be fupplied, your Omiffions over-looked, and your Sins forgiven. For in the best of your Works all these will meet: And therefore all your Confidence and Hope must be placed in the Mediation and Interceffion of Chrift, and of his Acceptance of your fincere Endeavours, and Prefentment of them in Union with his own all-fufficient Sacrifice and Merits to his Father. And unless your Deeds are thus ac

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SERM.companied with Faith, and your Faith with

XIV.

good Works, it would have been better for you to have been Heathens ftill; fince if either be wanting, the other is in vain. Christ, though his Name and his Will be revealed to you, and though his Name be called upon by you, will never come under your Roof here; nor receive you to his own Habitation hereafter.

SER

SERMON XV.

All Men to die.

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HEB. ix. 27.

It is appointed unto Men once to die,

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XV.

HESE Words are very few but very s E R M. full; very concise but very intelligible. They stand in no Need of being opened by taking a View of the Context, but are as plain of themselves as I could propofe to make them, by the largest Paraphrafe or Expofition. Without detaining you therefore with any Introduction, I fhall immedi→ ately proceed to fet them home upon your Minds, by enlarging upon the three following Particulars.

I. FIRST, That it is appointed unto all Men to die.

II. SECONDLY, That it is appointed unto them to die but once. And,

III. THIRDLY, That That Once is at a Time undetermined.

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